My friend Louise and I put together a song for Uncle Mike’s kickstarter for this cool Lovecraftian cult battle game, called Von Unaussprechlichen Kulten.
In which I attempt to find and link to all the classic background music from the 1967-1970 Spider-Man cartoon.
My goal is to find original tracks. Many videos can be found on youtube of these and other tracks including the hard-to-find Ray Ellis originals, but they have dialogue and sound effects layered over top, since they are harvested from the cartoons.
If you have any information or tips please comment below!
Kenny Graham “Panic Patrol” Episodes: Diamond Dust, Spider-Man Battles the Molemen, Phantom from the Depths of Time, The Evil Sorcerer, Spider-Man Meets Skyboy
Kenny Graham “Prowl Car” used in episodes: The Winged Thing, Evil Sorcerer, Vine
Where to find: Rtv Jazz vol 2 – Ted Heath & His Orchestra
Kenny Graham “Street Beat” From episodes: Criminal in the Clouds, Spider-Man Battles the Molemen, Phantom from the Depths of Time, Trip to Tomorrow, Vine, Home, Spider-Man Meets Skyboy
Where to find: Rtv Jazz vol 2 – Ted Heath & His Orchestra
Kenny Graham “Rat Race” Heard in episodes: Criminals in the Clouds, Menace from the Bottom of the World, Scourge of the Scarf, Madness of Mysterio, Diamond Dust, Phantom from the Depths of Time, Revolt in the Fifth Dimension, Trip to Tomorrow, The Evil Sorcerer, Vine, Home, Cold Storage
Where to find: Rtv Jazz vol 2 – Ted Heath & His Orchestra
Kenny Graham “Highway Hullaballoo” used in episodes: Criminals in the Clouds, Menace from the Bottom of the World, Diamond Dust, Spider-Man Battles the Molemen, Phantom from the Depths of Time, Vine, Winged Thing, Revolt in the Fifth Dimension, Down to Earth, Trip to Tomorrow, Up From Nowhere, Spider-Man Meets Skyboy
Where to find: Rtv Jazz vol 2 – Ted Heath & His Orchestra
Kenny Graham “Big Deal” used in episodes: Criminals in the Clouds, Phantom from the Depths of Time, The Vanishing Doctor Vespasian, Down to Earth, Birth of Micro Man, Vine, Spider-Man Meets Skyboy
Where to find: Rtv Jazz vol 2 – Ted Heath & His Orchestra
Kenny Graham “Square Squad” (used in episode “The Birth of Micro Man” and “Trip to Tomorrow”)
Kenny Graham “Shopping Jaunt” (heard in episode “Diamond Dust”)
SYD DALE
Syd Dale “Breakout” used in episodes: Knight Must Fall, Pardo Presents
Syd Dale”Dread and Danger A” used in episodes: Swing City, Rollarama
Syd Dale “Stalking Game” used in: Pardo Presents, Neptune’s Nose Cone
Syd Dale “The Aggressor” used in: Thunder Rumble
Syd Dale “Struggle Free” used in: Home, Blotto
Syd Dale “Alarm Call” used in: Pardo Presents
Syd Dale “Rescue Squad” used in: Pardo Presents, Home, Cold Storage
Syd Dale “The Hell Raisers” 1968 used in episodes: King-Pinned, The Evil Sorcerer
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 1 – KPM Artists
Syd Dale “Slipstream” 1968 heard in episodes: Swing City, Diamond Dust, The Evil Sorcerer
Where to find: “Spider Sounds Vol 1”
Syd Dale”Not So Private Eye” (used in episode Rollarama)
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 2 – KPM Artists
Syd Dale “Waiting Game” heard in: Vine, Cold Storage
Syd Dale “Looks Like Trouble” (used in episode King-Pinned, Criminals in the Clouds, Menace from the Bottom of the World, Spider-Man Battles the Molemen, Phantom from the Depths of Time)
Syd Dale “News Views” used in: Spider-Man Meets Skyboy
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 1 – KPM Artists
Syd Dale “Maelstrom (Criminals in the Clouds)” 1968 (heard in episode “Criminals in the Clouds”)
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 1 – KPM Artists
Syd Dale “Late Night London”
Syd Dale “Walk and Talk” heard in episodes: Swing City, Criminals in the Clouds, Cloud City of Gold
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 1 – KPM Artists
Syd Dale “Quite Contrary” heard in episodes: Criminal in the Clouds, The Evil Sorcerer
Syd Dale “The Washington Affair” Episodes used: Phantom from the Depths of Time, To Cage A Spider
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 1 – KPM Artists
Syd Dale “Rat Trap” Episodes used: Criminals in the Clouds, Spider-Man Battles the Molemen
Syd Dale “That’s Life” Used in: Pardo Presents, Thunder Rumble
Syd Dale “Breaking Point” Used in: Vine
Syd Dale “Ready for Action” Used in: Cold Storage
Syd Dale “Walk in a Nightmare” From episodes: “Menace from the Bottom of the World” and “Diamond Dust”
Syd Dale “Forewarning C” (used in episode “Menace from the Bottom of the World”)
Syd Dale “Sudden Scuffle” heard in: Vine, Neptune’s Nose Cone, Home, Spider-Man Meets Skyboy
Syd Dale “Staccato Curtain” heard in: Vine
Syd Dale “Outcome” heard in: Neptune’s Nose Cone
Syd Dale “Danger: Musicians at Work” used in Spider-Man Meets Skyboy (?)
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 1 – KPM Artists
“Swing In” Syd Dale 1968 used in: To Cage A Spider
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 2 – KPM Artists
Syd Dale “Blast Off 1” heard in: Neptune’s Nose Cone,
“Blast Off 2” heard in: Home, Thunder Rumble
Syd Dale “Chain Reaction” heard in: Cloud City of Gold
ALAN HAWKSHAW
Alan Hawkshaw “Drive On (The Library of Gorth)” 1967 (Heard in the episode Revolt in the Fifth Dimension)
Available on: KPM 1000 Series: The Sound of “Pop”
Alan Hawkshaw “Raver” 1967 (used in Spider-Man Battles the Molemen, episode The Big Brainwasher)
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 2 – KPM Artists
“The Action Scene” Alan Hawkshaw · Keith Mansfield
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 1 – KPM Artists
BILL MARTIN/PHIL COULTER
Bill Martin/Phil Coulter “Big Bass Guitar” (used in episode Diamond Dust, Spider-Man vs Desperado, Spider-Man Battles the Molemen and The Big Brainwasher)
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 1 – KPM Artists
Bill Martin/Phil Coulter “Discothik (Underground Swing)” (used in episodes Menace from the Bottom of the World, The Big Brainwasher)
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 2 – KPM Artists
Bill Martin/Phil Coulter “Mods and Rockers” used in episodes: Menace from the Bottom of the World, Spider-Man Battles the Molemen, Home, The Big Brainwasher and Devious Dr Dumpty
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 1 – KPM Artists
Bill Martin and Phil Coulter “Mr Chesterson’s Dog” (heard on episode ‘Menace from the Bottom of the World”)
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 1 – KPM Artists
Bill Martin/Phil Coulter “We’re on Top of the World” used in: Vine
Available on: KPM 1000 Series: The Sound of “Pop”
Bill Martin/Phil Coulter “L.S.D.” (heard in episodes Menace from the Bottom of the World, Spider-Man Battles the Molemen, and Revolt in The Fifth Dimension)
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 2 – KPM Artists
DAVID LINDUP
David Lindup “Trap Door” (heard in the episode “King-Pinned”, “Swing City” “Menace from the Bottom of the World” and “Revolt in the Fifth Dimension”)
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 2 – KPM Artists
David Lindup “Sixth Sense” used in episodes: King-Pinned, Swing City, Menace from the Bottom of the World, Diamond Dust, Cold Storage, Birth of Micro Man
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 2 – KPM Artists
David Lindup “Juggernaut” (heard in episode Menace from the Bottom of the World)
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 2 – KPM Artists
David Lindup “Stop Look and Listen” (as heard in the episode Scourge of the Scarf, Phantom from the Depths of Time and Super Swami)
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 2 – KPM Artists
David Lindup “Men of Action” (heard on episode Swing City, Menace from the Bottom of the World)
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 2 – KPM Artists
David Lindup “Unarmed Combat” (heard on episode Swing City)
David Lindup “Veiled Threat” 1968 (heard in the episode Diamond Dust, Rollarama, Revolt in the Fifth Dimension, Cold Storage
David Lindup “Zero Hour (Artificial Clouds)” 1968
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 2 – KPM Artists
David Lindup “Action Stations (That Night As The Town Slept)” (heard in episode “Criminals in the Clouds”)
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 2 – KPM Artists
David Lindup “Stand By (A Score to Settle)” (heard on episode “Swing City”)
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 2 – KPM Artists
JOHNNY HAWKSWORTH
Johnny Hawksworth “The Eyelash (Helicopter Chase)” heard in episode King-Pinned, Swing City, Criminals in the Clouds, The Evil Sorcerer
Johnny Hawksworth “Beat to Begin” (Heard in episode King Pinned, Criminals in the Clouds, Menace from the Bottom of the World)
Johnny Hawksworth “Beat Street” (as heard in episode King-Pinned, Swing City, Criminals in the Clouds, Diamond Dust, Menace from the Bottom of the World)
Johnny Hawksworth “Suspense Musical Saw” (heard in the episode Revolt in the Fifth Dimension)
Johnny Hawksworth “Latin Gear” (heard on episode Menace from the Bottom of the World, Diamond Dust, Spider-Man Battles the Molemen)
JOHNNY PEARSON
Johnny Pearson “Power Drive” used in episodes: Menace from the Bottom of the World, Diamond Dust, Thunder Rumble
Jonny Pearson “Grand Prix (The End of Skymaster)” (heard on episode Criminals in the Clouds)
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 1 – KPM Artists
RALPH DOLLIMORE
Ralph Dollimore “Tearaway” (unconfirmed)
DAVID BANKS
David Banks “Fear A” (used in episode Up From Nowhere, Rhino, Down to Earth)
From Psychoses Suite
David Banks “Fear B” (from episode Trouble With Snow)
From Psychoses Suite
David Banks “Fear D” (from episodes The Vanishing Doctor Vespasian, Rhino and Up From Nowhere)
From Psychoses Suite
David Banks “Fear E” (from episode The Birth of Microman, Down to Earth)
From Psychoses Suite
David Banks “Panic C” heard in: Cloud City of Gold
David Banks “Panic E” heard in episodes: Sky Harbor, Specialists and Slaves, Down to Earth, Vine, Blotto, Cold Storage
From Psychoses Suite
David Banks “Fright A” (episode Neptune’s Nose Cone, Winged Thing, Trip to Tomorrow)
From Psychoses Suite
David Banks “Fright B” used in episodes: Neptune’s Nose Cone, Knight Must Fall, Home
From Psychoses Suite
David Banks “Fright C” (episode Spider-Man vs Desperado and Up From Nowhere)
From Psychoses Suite
David Banks “Fright D” Used in episodes: Pardo Presents, Winged Thing, Trouble With Snow, Rhino, Up From Nowhere, Specialists and Slaves, Down to Earth, Home, Blotto
From Psychoses Suite
David Banks “Fright E” (episode Winged Thing)
From Psychoses Suite
HERBERT DAUM
Hubert Daum “Fight and Death” (used in episode Vine, Up From Nowhere, Madness of Mysterio)
Hubert Daum “Mysterious Cave” (used in episode Revolt in the Fifth Dimension and Trip to Tomorrow)
WLADIMIR SELINSKY (alias Ward Sillis or possibly Leon G. Sillis)
Wladimir Selinsky “Quicksand” (used in episode Birth of Micro Man, Rollarama, Specialists and Slaves)
Wladimir Selinsky “Velocity” heard in episode “Spider-Man Meets Skyboy” (?)
Wladimir Selinsky “Chronometry” heard in episode Neptune Nose Cone and Cloud City of Gold (?)
HEINRICH FEISCHNER
Heinrich Feischner “Tense Approach” (used in Scourge of the Scarf, Up From Nowhere, Madness of Mysterio, Specialists and Slaves, Down to Earth)
Heinrich Feischner “Dark Event” used in episode Pardo Presents
Heinrich Feischner “Suspense” (used in episode Knight Must Fall, Madness of Mysterio)
Heinrich Feischner “Panic Station”
HEINZE NEUBRAND / GOTTFRIED “TEDDY” WINDHOLZ
Heinz Neubrand “Quiet Reflection” (heard in the episode Revolt in the Fifth Dimension)
Heinz Neubrand and Gottfried “Teddy” Windholz “The Serpent” used in episodes: The Vanishing Doctor Vespasian, Madness of Mysterio, Up From Nowhere
From the album Journey Through the Balkans
LARRY ASHMORE
Larry Ashmore “Evil Crescendo” (used in The Big Brainwasher, Up From Nowhere, Knight Must Fall, Birth of Micro Man, Madness of Mysterio, Specialists and Slaves)
Larry Ashmore “Dark Shadows” used in episodes: The Big Brainwasher, Rollarama, Madness of Mysterio, Knight Must Fall, Specialists and Slaves, Down to Earth, Trip to Tomorrow, Pardo Presents(?)
Larry Ashmore “Fever Pitch” (used in episodes The Winged Thing, Scourge of the Scarf, The Big Brainwasher, Super Swami, Birth of Micro Man, Rollarama, Knight Must Fall, Madness of Mysterio, Sky Harbor, Specialists and Slaves, Down to Earth, Trip to Tomorrow)
Larry Ashmore “Whirlygig” (used in episodes Knight Must Fall)
Larry Ashmore “Apprehensions 3” used in The Evil Sorcerer
HOWARD BLAKE
Howard Blake “Colt 45” used in episodes: The Evil Sorcerer
Howard Blake “They! Are Coming!” heard in: The Evil Sorcerer, Vine
Howard Blake “Kraken” used in: The Evil Sorcerer, Vine, Spider-Man Meets Skyboy
LEN STEVENS
Len Stevens “Fire Burns” (from episode Conner’s Reptiles, Trouble With Snow, Rollarama, Rhino, Down to Earth)
PAUL GERARD
Paul Gerard “Nirvane” (from the episode Revolt in the Fifth Dimension)
Paul Gerard “Dissolve to Black” (from the episode Revolt in the Fifth Dimension)
Paul Gerard “Calculated Risk” used in: Spider-Man Meets Skyboy (?)
Paul Gerard – Compulsion – 0:34 [Skyboy]
Paul Gerard – Mesmerism – 1:03 [Skyboy]
Paul Gerard – Parataxis – 1:06 [Skyboy]
Paul Gerard – Photosphere – 0:37 [Skyboy]
Paul Gerard – Spasms – 0:37 [Skyboy]
Paul Gerard “Los Bandidos” (from the episode Spider-Man Battles the Molemen, Phantom from the Depths of Time)
Paul Gerard “The Big Creep” Used in: Spider-Man Battles the Molemen, Phantom from the Depths of Time
Paul Gerard “The Twitch” Used in: Spider-Man Battles the Molemen
Paul Gerard “The Petrified Forest” 1966 Used in: Spider-Man Battles the Molemen, Phantom from the Depths of Time, Vine
Paul Gerard “Crime Car” 1966 Used in: Spider-Man Battles the Molemen
Paul Gerard “Flying Column” Used in: Spider-Man Battles the Molemen
Paul Gerard “Street Riot” Used in: Spider-Man Battles the Molemen
Paul Gerard “Cosmos”
WILLIAM LOOSE & EMIL CADKIN
William Loose & Emil Cadkin “Melodic Beat” (heard in episode Swing City, Diamond Dust, Evil Sorcerer, Pardo Presents
William Loose & Emil Cadkin “Secret Affair” / “22 Industrial” (heard in episode Swing City)
William Loose & Emil Cadkin “Liverpool Today”
William Loose & Emil Cadkin “Grooving Along” used in: The Evil Sorcerer
William Loose & Emil Cadkin “Popster Party” used in episodes: Diamond Dust, Blotto
William Loose & Emil Cadkin “Pop Hit” heard in episode Diamond Dust
William Loose & Emil Cadkin “Town Rock”
William Loose & Emil Cadkin “Hip Scene” (heard in episode Criminals in the Clouds)
William Loose & Emil Cadkin “Would You Believe?”
William Loose & Emil Cadkin “Loose Scene” (heard in episode Swing City)
William Loose & Emil Cadkin “Freak Out Party” aka “Spy Rock” (heard in Spider-Man Battles the Mole Men)
William Loose “Industrial #10” aka “Danger(ous) Stealth” used in: Thunder Rumble
William Loose “Industrial #7” aka “Operation Zone” used in: Thunder Rumble
William Loose – Alley Rock
UNKNOWN ARTIST
“The Syndicate” KPM Artists
Where to find: Spider Sounds Vol 2 – KPM Artists
Muzak #4 Tribal Chant used in Neptune’s Nose Cone
KPM pre-1000 series (original stereo 78s; KPM LPs mono)
KPM 114 – LP 21 – The Square Squad – Kenny Graham – used in 3rd season only
KPM 114 – LP 21 – Prowl Car – Kenny Graham
KPM 114 – LP 21 – Street Beat – Kenny Graham
KPM 114 – LP 21 – Rat Race – Kenny Graham
KPM 115 – LP 21 – Highway Hullabaloo – Kenny Graham
KPM 115 – LP 21 – Shopping Jaunt – Kenny Graham
KPM 115 – LP 21 – Panic Patrol – Kenny Graham
KPM 115 – LP 21 – Big Deal! – Kenny Graham
KPM 203 – LP 37 – Blast Off 1 – Syd Dale
KPM 203 – LP 37 – Blast Off 2 – Syd Dale
KPM 203 – LP 37 – Outcome – Syd Dale
KPM 204 – LP 37 – That’s Life – Syd Dale
KPM 204 – LP 37 – The Aggressor – Syd Dale
KPM 204 – LP 37 – Ready for Action – Syd Dale
KPM 204 – LP 37 – Rescue Squad – Syd Dale
KPM 205 – LP 37 – The Stalking Game – Syd Dale
KPM 205 – LP 37 – Breakout – Syd Dale
KPM 205 – LP 37 – The Waiting Game – Syd Dale
KPM 205 – LP 37 – Sudden Scuffle – Syd Dale
KPM 206 – LP 37 – Alarm Call – Syd Dale
KPM 206 – LP 37 – Struggle Free – Syd Dale
KPM 207 – LP 37 – Staccato Curtain – Syd Dale
KPM 201 – LP 38 – Breaking Point – Syd Dale *
KPM 201 – LP 38 – Chain Reaction – Syd Dale *
KPM 226 – LP 41 – Power Drive – Johnny Pearson
KPM 227 – LP 41 – Rat Trap – Syd Dale
KPM 1000 series
KPM1001 – The Eyelash – Johnny Hawksworth
KPM1001 – Beat to Begin – Johnny Hawksworth
KPM1001 – Latin Gear – Johnny Hawksworth
KPM1001 – Beat Street – Johnny Hawksworth
KPM1002 – The Hell Raisers – Syd Dale
KPM1002 – Walk In A Nightmare – Syd Dale
KPM1002 – Slipstream B – Syd Dale
KPM1002 – Walk and Talk – Syd Dale
KPM1002 – Quite Contrary – Syd Dale
KPM1002 – Dream Fantasy – Syd Dale
KPM1015 – Big Bass Guitar – Bill Martin & Phil Coulter
KPM1015 – Mr. Chesterton’s Dog – Alan Hawkshaw (not Bill Martin & Phil Coulter)
KPM1015 – Mods & Rockers – Bill Martin & Phil Coulter
KPM1015 – Drive On – Alan Hawkshaw – used in 3rd season only
KPM1015 – L.S.D. – Bill Martin & Phil Coulter
KPM1015 – Discothik – Bill Martin & Phil Coulter
KPM1015 – We’re on Top of the World (inst.) – Bill Martin & Phil Coulter
KPM1015 – Raver – Alan Hawkshaw
KPM1017 – Stand By – David Lindup
KPM1017 – Men Of Action – David Lindup
KPM1017 – Action Stations – David Lindup
KPM1017 – Zero Hour – David Lindup
KPM1017 – Maelstrom – Syd Dale (not J. Pearson)
KPM1017 – Grand Prix – Johnny Pearson
KPM1017 – Juggernaut – David Lindup
KPM1017 – Swing In – Syd Dale
KPM1017 – The Washington Affair – Syd Dale
KPM1017 – News Views – Syd Dale
KPM1017 – Stop, Look & Listen – David Lindup
KPM1017 – Unarmed Combat – David Lindup *
KPM1018 – Veiled Threat A – David Lindup
KPM1018 – Forewarning C – Syd Dale
KPM1018 – Looks Like Trouble B – Syd Dale *
KPM1018 – Looks Like Trouble C – Syd Dale
KPM1018 – Sixth Sense – David Lindup
KPM1018 – Trap Door – David Lindup
KPM1018 – Suspense Musical Saw – Johnny Hawksworth – used in 3rd season only
KPM1018 – Dread and Danger – Syd Dale *
Joseph Weinberger / JW Theme Music
JW 388 – Colt 45 – Howard Blake
JW 388 – They! Are Coming! * – Howard Blake
JW 388 – Colt 45 – Kraken * – Howard Blake
Capitol/Carlin CPM series
CPM 004 – Pop Hit – William Loose & Emil Cadkin
CPM 004 – Popster Party – William Loose & Emil Cadkin
CPM 004 – Grooving Along – William Loose & Emil Cadkin
CPM 004 – Freak Out Party – William Loose & Emil Cadkin
CPM 004 – Hip Scene – William Loose & Emil Cadkin
CPM 004 – Melodic Beat – William Loose & Emil Cadkin
CPM 005 – Danger(ous) Stealth – William Loose & Emil Cadkin
CPM 005 – Operation Zone – William Loose & Emil Cadkin
CPM 005 – Secret Affair – William Loose & Emil Cadkin
What if I told you that you could meet The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets’ singer Toren in the Boston Wasteland and hear exclusive Thickets tunes on the radio in Fallout 4?
It’s true!
Thanks to our skilled superfan John Peacock and Dave Johnson, the “Musicians Mod” adds a radio station in the town of Goodneighbor. Once you complete the quests, including one given to you by Toren to find Mario’s guitar, you can listen to the new radio station which includes (among many other bands) four acoustic Thickets songs – both old and new – made exclusively for this Fallout mod, as well as the Spaceship Zero radio plays. You can also find Thickets clothing for your character to wear. Plus Toren provides a number of voices, both on the radio and in the wasteland.
Also, Three Dog is back! Check out this video to see what it’s all about and the cool features:
Check out that tentacular Thickets t-shirt!
The mod is available for Xbox 1 and PC. PS4 gamers will have to wait a bit longer. Crawl out through the fallout and follow the links below!
The first of my a capella tracks is available free (or more specifically, pay-what-you-want) for a limited time on bandcamp. Go to the site to see all the new tracks as they appear, and click the ‘follow’ button while you’re there so you don’t miss a thing!
This track is originally from my podcast Caustic Soda and has a swear word in it. Explicit! Parental Advisory!
More tracks to follow in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
This is the new t-shirt design for my band The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets. It was designed and is being produced by Trevor Phillips of Ebon Aves Apparel. If you’re thinking of screen printing some cool shirts you should give him a dingle.
These shirts will be for sale at the free Canada Day concert in Chilliwack BC on July 1. Check out the Facebook event here.
This music video for my band The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets’ song “20 Minutes of Oxygen” was written, directed and cut by my good friend Mike Jackson of Steam-Powered Films. It was made possible by the kind donations of fans from the band and with the help of Kerberos Productions and would not be possible without the talend of several professionals too numerous to name here.
You haven’t heard about Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School? Part art class, part cabaret, the monthly Dr Sketchy brings you 3 hours with Vancouver’s dazzling and bizarre burlesque personalities. Sunday Feb 13 the notorious Bloody Betty will be posing based on Cthulhupalooza and the music of The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets, with Thickets front man Toren Atkinson will be in attendance. Join us at the Wallflower (2420 Main St Vancouver), lose 1d20 Sanity Points and a chance to win free tickets to Cthulhupalooza II!
A couple months ago, my friend Casey invited me to see his studio, which he made into a sort of “space bar” using panels from a dismantled set of the TV show “Defying Gravity.” About the same time, my friend Mike Jackson let me know he just got a super duper new HD video camera. Even though the album is nearly a decade old, we decided to use these resources to shoot a music video for the song “20 Minutes of Oxygen.”
Mike and I shot around some ideas and came up with a plot. We rented a space suit, collected other props, and enlisted the help of some extremely talented people, who volunteered their time and equipment and skills.
We rented a “shuttle space suit” from Phoenix 1 in North Van. To make it look more future-space, we had Chris and AJ work on some accessories, namely a X-Wingesque bib and some modified sports gear, as well as a head lamp. We also wired lights to the inside of the helmet to give it the BSG look. Chris also did up a backpack that looked amazing but unfortunately had real O2 tanks on the back so I was constantly carrying 30+ lbs every day I shot in it.
On Friday night we shot a scene where I’m drifting in space outside the space ship (which will be provided by Kerberos “Sword of the Stars” Productions). Mike got a big black board and stabbed holes through it with a screwdriver. Lit from behind it looked like a star field. He bought a ‘star filter’ to make all the lights flare like you’ve seen in the new Star Trek movie. I also picked up a small metal hammer from the flea market on Terminal and Chris bored a stick into it which we wrapped in green screen tape so we could create the illusion of the hammer floating with me in space.
On Saturday we drove out to the sand dunes in South Richmond for the ‘alien planet’ scenes. We filmed a lot of me trekking around and Chris and his crew had put together an amazing space shipwreck set, with lots of pyrotechnics. It was very Tattooine, with the added bonus of a lot of dirt bikes tooling around us while we were trying to film.
On Sunday we went back into the spaceship set and rigged up the “Command Information Console” like you’ve seen in Star
Wars and Battlestar Galactica, which we made with film transparency and acrylic sheets supplied by Eamon. Casey had put together a ‘captain’s chair’ and we spread some other “gack” around the set to make it look like part of Spaceship Zero.
Merrick, Jordan and Warren drove in from Chilliwack and Abbotsford and donned their old Spaceship Zero crew jumpsuits, which I had embellished with the SpaceCorp logo at my workplace EmbroidMe, as well as a couple new SpaceCorp baseball caps.
We used the base from my Rock Band drum kit, some old clear plastic film canisters donated by Chris Lecher and some rope lights from Home Despot to create some space drums, which Jordan put together with his mechanical prowess.
After the band finished their scenes I got back into my space suit, which I dubbed
the iron maiden, and did the last shots, including my re-entry into the atmosphere of the planet.
All in all it was an amazing shoot and it’s going to be out best video yet. Stay tuned to thickets.net and The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets Facebook page for more updates as they happen.
The entire project was funded by ourselves and significant contributions from the fans of the band, and we are grateful for that! Special thanks to Adam PW Smith Photography for photos and general assistance and errand-running.
And I’m working on this for the 20 Minutes of Oxygen rock video shoot (click to make big):
I can print this out in full colour on six letter size transparencies (total print area would probably be about 25 x 22″) and adhere them to clear plexiglass.
I think CIC stands for Command Information Control
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